DIY Masks
There are many videos on how to make your own masks which protect you during the corona pandemic. All those videos are similar to each other because all you need to make these masks are normal everyday material that everyone has got at home. Many supermarkets don't have these masks anymore which makes those videos more popular. The people in the videos also claim that you can use the masks for a long time. They could really be handy if you haven't got any masks at home.
How useful is it to wear a mask?
Security measures to protect against the new coronavirus are expanding worldwide. Many borders are closed and in some countries, a partial curfew has been introduced. A real-time map of the Johns Hopkins University Systems Science and Engineering Center in the United States shows how the disease has spread worldwide. Fear of infection with pathogens causes many people to travel with face masks or respirators.
Masks that protect against droplet infection
Wearing a protective mask is said to protect against droplet infection with viruses. However, the mouth and nose protection known from the operating room is not suitable for this purpose: these masks prevent the user from passing the droplets only to the environment, thus protecting the patient in the operating room. If a mask does not fit tightly on the face, it cannot safely protect the user from a droplet infection. Particle filtering half masks of class II or III (filtering face parts, FFP), consisting of completely or partially non-replaceable filter material, are suitable. These reduce infectious aerosols in the inhaled air. However, reaching these masks is also very difficult for people from the public.
How useful is a preventive measure? Should the mask be worn as soon as you leave the house?
Opinions on this issue are divided among infection specialists: According to the Robert Koch Institute and the World Health Organization, wearing a mask can create a false sense of security, which in case of doubt may neglect central hygiene measures such as hand washing or distance rules. Evidence that wearing a mask for mouth-nose protection significantly reduces the risk of infection for a healthy person wearing it is also lacking. According to WHO emergency manager Michael Ryan, people use the masks incorrectly, so there are even additional risks if they become infected.
However: Not everyone who is infected with SARS-CoV-2 will notice this either. Even if you don't show symptoms of the disease, you can be a carrier. In these cases, wearing a face mask as a precaution may help reduce the risk of contamination. Anyone entering public spaces where a safety distance of 1.5 to 2 meters cannot be achieved in public transport, supermarkets or the workplace can help reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 using mouth protection. For optimal effectiveness, it is important that the mouthpiece fits correctly, that is, to be worn tightly and to be replaced when wet. To protect against infection, the Robert Koch Institute recommends washing your hands regularly and thoroughly, avoiding coughing and sneezing towards others, and staying away from the patient (about one to two meters). These are the most effective preventive measures in daily life. Hand contact should also be avoided.
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